Apart from the famous canals, tulip fields covering the countryside, Amsterdam’s art galleries and magnificent attractions of Rotterdam, touring the Benelux country of The Netherlands by bike is idyllic and a perfect way to see the country – even the most rookie of cyclists!
Along with windmills and the color orange, the humble bicycle should almost be considered a Dutch icon. Being a small nation with a flat landscape are reasons why it is so convenient to use a bike to get around, whether you happen to be talking about a small town or an urbanized city. If you haven’t been to The Netherlands before, the country is perceived as the most ‘bike friendly’ with literally hundreds of clearly signposted and approximately 35,000km of well-maintained bike routes. For such a small country, this is a phenomenal amount and illustrates how popular cycling around is. Due to the popularity, it means that cyclists do have a lot of power on the roads, making a cycling tour a pleasant and safe experience.
Depending on what kind of trip you want to do and your time limitations, there are plenty of bike paths perfectly adjusted to make short tours. To make your trip a little more adventurous, staying at a holiday park or campsite will also give you a chance to meet other biking companions, locals and really experience the country at its finest by being surrounded by some great landscapes. No matter what kind of accommodation you’re looking for, it’s easy to do your research on holiday accommodations. With independent reviews from past guests, you will get a holistic perspective and find the best spot to recharge your batteries.
Highlights of the Netherlands
If you are a fan of cycling and want to see some unique and peaceful scenery then making a cycling holiday across the Netherlands is a solid recommendation.
Okay, of course Amsterdam is always a highlight with all its quirkiness. It is a must to venture through this town during any tour of the country to see all the famous landmarks. Almost a total “bike-city”, you would think that locals would be annoyed by the amount of rookie cyclists not understanding the unspoken rules of Amsterdam bike paths. On the contrary, the vibe is fairly calm so there isn’t a lot of bike-rage to be seen or experienced (phew!).
Amongst other beautiful cities to pass through like Haarlem and Leiden, there are also the quaint Plaines of Groene Hart with its agricultural countryside and traditional windmills.
If you are thinking of making a special biking trip, an idea is always to visit during the beginning of spring when colorful fields of tulips are in full bloom! With rows and rows of perfectly aligned tulips ordered by color, there are some great photo opportunity shots waiting on this bike tour!
